October 6, 2022

Death in the Making: Reexamining the Iconic Spanish Civil War Photobook at International Center of Photography (ICP), September 30, 2022 – January 9, 2023

“The first major monographic exhibition to tell the story of Robert Capa’s influential 1938 wartime photobook, Death in the Making: Reexamining the Iconic Spanish Civil War Photobook will be on view at the International Center of Photography (ICP) from September 30, 2022 through January 9, 2023. The exhibition brings together nearly 75 original photographs and related ephemera to offer new insight into the book Death in the Making, a touchstone in the history of war photography that resonates today. In addition to work by Hungarian photojournalist Robert Capa, the exhibition presents new scholarship to properly credit the contributions of Polish-American photojournalist Chim (David Seymour), and German photojournalist Gerda Taro. The book is dedicated to Taro and was published in the wake of her death at the Spanish front in July 1937. The show, curated by Cynthia Young, former curator of the Robert Capa and Cornell Capa Archive at ICP, is accompanied by a 2020 edition of the book Death in the Making, published by Damiani/ICP.

Death in the Making: Reexamining the Iconic Spanish Civil War Photobook represents the first in an ongoing series of exhibitions that revisit and highlight ICP’s permanent collection and celebrate its history. ICP was founded in 1974 by photojournalist Cornell Capa, who championed ‘concerned photography.’ Cornell was the brother of Robert Capa, who founded Magnum Photos in 1947.” — ICP

Robert Capa, [Crowd of Republican soldiers listening to a speech, Córdoba front, Spain], August-September 1936. The Robert and Cornell Capa Archive, Gift of Cornell and Edith Capa, 1992 (709.1992). © International Center of Photography / Magnum Photos.
Robert Capa, [Republican soldiers saluting through the windows of their departing train, Barcelona, Spain], August, 1936. The Robert Capa and Cornell Capa Archive, Gift of Cornell and Edith Capa, 2010 (2010.86.16) © International Center of Photography / Magnum Photos.
Gerda Taro, [Republican soldiers, La Granjuela, Spain], June 1937. Gift of Cornell and Edith Capa, 2002 (511.2002). Courtesy International Center of Photography.
Robert Capa, [Militiamen marching through a field, near Barcelona], August 1936. Gift of William Piel, 1994 (585.1994). © International Center of Photography / Magnum Photos.
Gerda Taro, [Two boys on a barricade, Barcelona], August 1936. Gift of Cornell and Edith Capa, 1992 (588.1992). Courtesy International Center of Photography.
Robert Capa, [Children walking along a train track, fleeing Nationalist bombings, near Cerro Muriano, Córdoba front, Spain], September 1936. The Robert Capa and Cornell Capa Archive, Gift of Cornell and Edith Capa, 1992 (692.1992). © International Center of Photography / Magnum Photos.
Robert Capa, [Woman after an air raid, Madrid], 1936. The Robert Capa and Cornell Capa Archive, Gift of Cornell and Edith Capa, 1992 (885.1992). © International Center of Photography / Magnum Photos.
Robert Capa, [Two refugee women sitting with children, Madrid], 1936. The Robert Capa and Cornell Capa Archive, Gift of Cornell and Edith Capa, 1992 (886.1992). © International Center of Photography / Magnum Photos.
Gerda Taro, [Civilians pressing against bars of the morgue following an air raid, Valencia, Spain], May 1937. Gift of William Piel, 1994 (99.1995). Courtesy International Center of Photography.

“As we celebrate ICP’s history by revisiting collection highlights in a contemporary context, Death in the Making presents audiences with new insight into the historically resonant contributions of Robert Capa, Chim, and Gerda Taro,” said David E. Little, Executive Director of ICP, “and, as evidenced in recent photographs of the Russia-Ukraine War, points to photography’s ongoing relevance in political discourse, debate, and action.”

Images courtesy International Center of Photography (ICP).